Hydraulic dynamometer



Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,735

' G. H. WALKER HYDRAULI C DYNAMOMETER Filed March 5l, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR 51:0, fl. WW

ATTORNEY Sept. 25, 1928.

G.. H. WALKER HYDRAULIC DYNAMOMETER Filed March 31, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a 34 c c i I 5 10 C2 I c a a a a Fig.2.

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/A/l V7'0/? Mme/P- Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,735

" G. H. WALKER HYDRAULIC DYNAMOMETER Filed March 31, 1927 a Sheets-Sheet 5 i f a a. s l

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Y M/VENTOR T eovflJl cd/ww i'gg ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES A 1,685,735- PATENT OFFICE.

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Application filed March 31, 1927, Serial No. 180,019, and in Great Britain September 1, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in hydraulic dynamometers and more particularly to improvements in hydraulic dynamometers of the type in which air and water passages are forme'din the vanesof the stator suchas described in the specification of the prior U. S. Patent No. 1,035,700. of F. Harrison. i

In a dynamometer of this type motion is imparted to the water contained in the machine on the rotation 'of the rotor and there is set up in each pocket or cup 'of'thev rotor and casing a 'vortex which rapidly consumes power. The velocity and pressure of the water are greatest at the periphery of the pockets or cups whilst at the centre, where the velocity and pressure is the least, there is atendency to form a vacuum, and-if air be admitted at this point the ,vortex will cavitate, i. e. form acavity, and consequently the radial depth of the water measured from the centre of the vortex will decrease." As the hydraulic resistance to rotation of the water is approximately proportional to the radial depth of water it will be seen that by reducing this depth to a very small amount the consumption of power can be reduced to a minimum.

Under normal running conditions the radial depth of water, and therefore the hydraulic resistance, are influenced both by the rate at which water is supplied to the pockets or cups and by the rate at which itleaves, and conse uently if the rate of egress exceeds that of ingress the resistance will gradually disappear. When using the form of dynamometer described in the previous United States. Patent No. 1,035,700 in which the depth of waterfo'rming the vortex in each pocket or cup is regulated by means of valves on the inlet or outlet of the casing, it has been found that innabsorbing the power developed by certain forms of engines'th'ere is a tendency for the pockets or cups to empty themselves and allow the engine to race. This feature is partly at-: tributable to the fact that the pressure of water arising in the casing from the destruction of power is suflicient to force the... water a a more rapid rate out of the casing than that at which it enters the pockets or cups.

According tothe present invention in a dynamometer of the type referred to, the radial depth of water forming the vortex 'vention applied thereto;

with two sets of vanes b forming pockets or tion it pre plate in the pockets or cups is positively regulated independently of the rate of supply thereto by causing the waste water to flow from the pockets or cups over a weir or similar device, the dept of which can be r. lated.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a dynamometer showing one form of the Fig. 2 .is a section on line 22 Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of sliding plate C. h Fig. 3 is a transverse section throu h a dynamometer showing another form 0 the invention applied thereto.- 0

Fig. 4 is asection on line 4-4 Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section showing modified arrangement for operating the tubes F -or plates C.

T-he dynamometer is of the type described in United States Patent No. 1,035,700 having a stator A formed with vanes a formin pockets or cups 0 and a. rotor B formed cups b air passa es (/1. and water'passages a being provide in .one or more of the vanes a of the stator.

In the form of 'the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one of the pockets or cups 0 in the stator is provided with guides cradiating outwards from a point approximately corresponding with the centre of the vortex.

A late C capable of being moved radially is tted into the guides 0.

When the.plate C is in the closed posisents a blank face to the vortex and the position of its inner edge or face 0 is approximately the same as the centre a of the vortex. B sliding the plate C so that the edge 0 recs es fromthe center of the vortex, the ridges forms a weir over which part of the water forming the vortex may spill into thesehamber, a, formed in the pocket or cu by the web or flange a. The chamberfa. is connected by the passages a with the drain or outlet for the water.

Thus the rate of supply of water to the .pocketsor'ctfps' a", 6 does not materially afiect-theradial depth of the water forming the vortex since such radial depthj'is fixed by the osition of the edge a of the" sliding v and any surplus water which cannot be contained in the vortex passes over the edge of the weir into the chamber a and passes away through the passages a. The sliding plate C is preferably so arranged that when in its extreme open position there is practically no radial depth of water in the vortex.

The sliding :plate C may be moved in its guide in any suitable way such as by a hand wheel D operating a screw C working in a nut C carried on the plate. Where two sliding plates C are employed as shown in the drawings. one in either half of the dynamometer, the screws operating them are coupled together by chain gearing d or other mechanism so that they may be operated simultaneously. 1

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the sliding plate is replaced by a hollow tube F having an open end 7. The hollow tube projects into the pocket or cup a and can be moved radially therein, the uppermost position of its open end 7' corresponding approximately with the position of the centre of the vortex.

The end f can be moved radially outwards from this position so that its position will fix, the radial depth of water forming the vortex, and the surplus water due to the incoming supply escapes through the tube' and the apertures at the outer end thereof into achamber from which it escapes through suitable ports or passages g to the drain or water outlet.

The hollow tube F may be moved radially 1 in any'desired way as by a hand wheel D tubes F are connected water the rotation of which causes the longitudinal movement of the screw E afiixed to the end of the tube F. Where two hollow tubes F are employed as shown in the drawings, one in either half of the dynamometer, the nuts operating the screws 'E are coupled together by chain gearing d or other mechanism so that they may be operated simultaneously.

In the construction shown in Fig; 5 the to a bridge piece G hand wheel D and.

been described above which is moved by a s' 1e screw E.

e invention has with reference to a dynamometer in which the radial depth of water forming the-vortex .in all the pockets or cups is controlled bytwo devices each operat on one 'pocket or cup. As ithB-S been fo ii d that the radial depth of the water remains approximately uniform throughout all the pockets or cu s in the rotor and stator even though t e depth. is controlled in one pocket or cup only, rovided that the water can communicate reely. between all the kets or on one of the devices descri above ma with, and the radial depth 0 the in all the, or cups of the dynamometer may "controlled by a single device operated on one pdcket or cup only. But it is to be understood that the radial depth of water may be controlled by one or any convenient greater number of such devices suitably arranged around the dyna-- mometer.

What I claim as my intention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In an hydraulic dynamometcr of the type referred to having pockets formed between the vanes of the stator and rotor the combination with said vanes of depth controlling devices arranged in said pockets and means for moving said devices radially,

' whereby the radial depth of water forming the vortex in the pockets can be'positively regulated independentlyof the rate of sup-.1

ply of water to the pockets.

2. In an hydraulic dynamometer of the type referred to having pockets formed between the vanes of the stator and rotor the combination with said vanes of a weir arranged in one of the pockets, 'and means for moving said weir radially whereby the radial depth ofwater forming the vortex in the pockets can be positively regulated independently of the rate of supply of water to the pockets.

3. In an hydraulic dynamometer of thetype referred to having pockets formed between'the vanes of the stator and rotor, the

combination with said vanes of a weir ,ar-

ranged in a plurality of the pockets, and means for moving said weirs radially whereby the radial depth of waterforming the vortex in the pockets can be positively regulated independentl of the rate of supply of water to the pochets.

4. In an hydraulic dynamometer of the i type referred to, having pockets formed between the vanes of the stator and rotorthe combination with said vanes of a sliding hollow tube arranged in one of the pockets and means for moving said tube radially the vortex in the ets canbe positively regulated indepen y of the ply of water to the kets; V

5. In an hydrauhc dynamometer of the type referred to having pockets formed bewhereby the radial depth 'of water forming entl rate of suptween the vanesof the stator and rotor the combination with said vanes of, sliding hollow tubes arranged in a plurality of 'the pockets, and means for moving radially whereby the radial depth of water forming the vertex in the pockets can be positively regulated independently of the rate of supply of water to the pockets.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my V v TGEORGE HENB Y WALKER.

said tubes 

